Stuart Gustafson's Blog, page 2

Heading to Los Cabos — Food, Sun, and Sand!

I am heading to my favorite place in the sun, Los Cabos, BCS, Mexico, in just a few days. I haven’t traveled much, or even been posting because of my wife’s Alzheimer’s Disease, and her passing away just about six months ago. They have been very difficult times.

My daughter will be with me this time so she can see what my wife and I always enjoyed about going to Cabo. In fact, this trip will be my 23rd time there. In addition to the normal activities while there, I will be writing about some of the places to find the most amazing food selections, views, ambience, etc. I have been given an Assignment Letter from The Hotel Guide to write an article titled Amazing Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Cuisines in San José del Cabo! I will featuring one—and only one—place for breakfast, place for lunch, and place for dinner.

The lunch and dinner locations are set.

Legendary chef and entrepreneur Tadd Chapman will be hosting us for LUNCH at his [relatively] new Habaneros Bistro in the beautiful courtyard of El Encanto Inn and Suites in the heart of San José del Cabo. My wife and I enjoyed many meals at Habaneros in its old San José location, sometimes walking to it from the “hotel zone” beach area. We also had a most amazing dinner at one of his restaurants a few years back when we were introduced to a Jalapeño Margarita. Tasty, and with a kick!
Looking at the lunch menu, I think I could make a full meal just out of the five Starters. You know what that means? Right; I’ll have to go back again, if not several more times!

Having enjoyed a spectacular evening and DINNER at Javier’s Restaurant a few years back, I am super excited to be going back to experience their new design and menu, not that the previous design or menu needing any improvements! The view out over the Sea of Cortés, aka the Gulf of California, provides awesome views, especially as the sun continues its slow descent into the horizon. I have looked at the wide variety of selections on their extensive new menu, and I am clearly at a loss as to what to have. Maybe they will make it easy for me by just providing a set menu.
Perhaps I will take a picture of the menu, write down what I am having, and then come back at least once more to savor some new aperitivos and/or entrees. The service and ambience were totally spectacular the last time I dined at Javier’s, so it’s hard for me to imagine what improvements were made to make it even better than before!

BREAKFAST is the one meal that still must be confirmed. I am hoping for a location that, in addition to amazing cuisine and ambience, provides gorgeous views that accentuate the beauty of the area and the extraordinary attack on your senses as a new day dawns in San José del Cabo!

Stay tuned as 2023 is just about ready to begin. I hope you have a wonderful day, week, month, and 2023!

Wishing you the best.

Stuart Gustafson, America’s International Travel Expert®

Cruising is like Getting an MBA

Your first question, and I’m assuming you’ll have more than one, is “How did he come up with ridiculous comparison?” It’s a valid question, and it’s an easy answer.

As most people realize, getting an undergraduate degree in a specific field means you are concentrating your courses in that one area. For me, it was mathematics, switching to Math after completing most of the requirements for an Aerospace Engineering degree. So why didn’t I finish the engineering program? Take a look at the date above. It was the early 1970s, and aerospace engineers were flipping burgers because there weren’t jobs in their field.

On to the MBA. When I wanted to broaden my knowledge of business, and make myself more valuable to future employers, I looked at various programs. Among consideration were programs that concentrated on Finance and on Marketing, such as those highlighted in blue and green, respectively, below. The “courses” listed here are just examples, not any actual set of graduate programs in business.

As you see, my graduate education would have been focused primarily on set of curricula, but I wanted a broader base of knowledge. So, rather than going “thin and deep,” I decided to go “wide and shallow” as the items in yellow below represent.

You still might be wondering how any of this is related to cruising. Well, here we go. Let’s say you’ve never been to Central America, and you see a “good deal” for a tour of one of the countries. You go on it, and it was “okay,” but you wondered if ALL of Central America was like that. And with nothing for comparison, you won’t know the answer to your own question.

Going on that one-country trip was like focusing on only one subject area as shown above in blue or in green..

Now consider this alternative.

Instead of going on that one-country tour, you go on a cruise that stops at many of the ports of the Central American countries. True, you don’t see as much of any particular country (as you did on your single-country tour going “thin and deep” like that Finance or Marketing concentration). Instead, your visits were “narrow and wide” like the MBA program where you get a little of a lot of areas. That’s why I like cruising.

Here’s a real-life example. Having been on about three dozen cruises (and a speaker on more than two dozen of them), I’ve been able to visit over 160 different cruise ports. Clearly, I would not be able to visit all those places if I just went directly to them for an in-depth visit. But by seeing them on a cruise (and where I unpacked only once!), I can then determine which places I would like to return to and spend more time. It’s not a “go and hope” visit as it could be on that “good deal” tour a few paragraphs up.

Now, you’ve seen enough to know you want to go back. That’s how it is for me and Panama. I’ve been through the Panama Canal twice. I went west to east in 2014, and then east to west in 2015. Even though it was only from the ship, I saw enough, and read enough about the country that I would like to go back there for a Panama-only tour, vacation, etc.

So the next time you think about going on a vacation, would a cruise be better for you since it could give you a glimpse into many places rather than just one? That’s worth thinking about.

Happy Travels!
Stuart

Stuart Gustafson is America’s International Travel Expert® who writes novels and loves everything about travel. Visit his website at www.stuartgustafson.com. You can also connect with him personally on Facebook and/or with him and other travelers on his International Travel Expert page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/International-Travel-Expert-147321228683651/

All information and images copyright © 2014-2021 by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC (unless stated otherwise). America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC.

I really Prefer Driving in Boise Than in San Diego

courtesy of interstate-guide.com

I recently went on my FIRST and ONLY trip for 2021. I know that is not terribly unusual given the way the covid-19 virus keeps flaring up over and over and over again. But it is unusual for me as a frequent traveler and a cruise ship speaker with the U.S. Registered Trademark America’s International Travel Expert®. That is how things are happening these days, but only one trip for me between March of 2020 and all of 2021 says things are really wack-o.

My six-day trip was to the San Diego area where I used to live before moving to Boise in 1993. I was able to visit a few friends and some family, and even take in a San Diego Padres game that was actually very exciting (and the Padres won 8-3!).

courtesy of interstate-guide.com

The two main high-volume freeways slicing through San Diego are the east-west Interstate 8, and the north-south Interstate 5. There are a few other highways weaving their ways throughout the area, but I-8 and I-5 are the two biggies. There are some spots along these freeways where there are up to eight lanes of traffic in each direction. And when all those cars are moving at speeds from 65 to [approximately] 90+ miles per hour, that is a lot of traffic and multiple-thousand pound vehicles whizzing in and out of lanes.

I am still fairly comfortable with driving all the freeways here even though I’ve been in Boise for just shy of 28 years. But the one thing that does worry me a bit is when a car or motorcycle or pickup truck that I don’t see in my rear view mirror goes speeding past me at an excessive rate of speed. I’m not as worried for my own safety since it has already gone past me, but I do have concerns for others on the road as well as he safety of the driver and passengers in that vehicle.

Fortunately, that has been a very rare occurrence for me when driving in Boise, whether on Interstate 84 or other major roads such as Highway 55 up to McCall and beyond.

courtesy of Vectorstock.com

I was chatting with a food server at one of the San Diego restaurants I visited, and he had many nice things to say about Boise. Jerry said he found the drivers here to be very courteous, something he found sorely lacking in San Diego. One thing he mentioned specifically was how drivers waited when the traffic light turned green. “Here in San Diego,” he said, “drivers are ready to hit the accelerator as soon as the light changes. But of course, our drivers are also still coming through the light after it’s red. So it’s a real recipe for accidents.”

courtesy of Amazon.com

It’s nice to be back in Boise, where drivers are calmer and more polite. Yes, it was nice to finally go on a trip, but it’s also nice to be home.

Thank you, Boise drivers for being polite and safe.

Happy Travels!
Stuart

Stuart Gustafson is America’s International Travel Expert® who writes novels and loves everything about travel. Visit his website at www.stuartgustafson.com. You can also connect with him personally on Facebook and/or with him and other travelers on his International Travel Expert page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/International-Travel-Expert-147321228683651/

All information and images copyright © 2014-2021 by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC (unless stated otherwise). America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC.

There’s a New Food Truck Park in Boise

Logo from website www.greenacresboise.com/

There’s a new truck park in town, and it’s not a place where truckers park their rigs overnight or longer. No, this truck park – Green Acres Food Truck Park – is a new food truck park in the heart of Boise.

Remember the main real estate maxim: Location, Location, Location?

Well, Green Acres has the perfect location as it is just steps from Ann Morrison Park and the Boise River Greenbelt. It’s address? 1401 Shoreline Drive, Boise, ID 83702 as indicated in the Google map below.
Google map from google.com/maps/place/1401+Shoreline+...

What’s at the Green Acres Food Truck Park?

Quite simply, there’s a variety of food trucks there waiting o serve you lunch and dinner. They’re not always the same ones there all the time (the City doesn’t like them to take up permanent residency), but you’re sure to find something delicious to eat between 11:00 AM and 8:00 PM. And there is even an onsite Green Acres Café Wednesday through Sunday serving our espresso menu, pastries and sandwiches. Here is a link to their menu.

It’s not just food at this new Boise attraction, although that’s a good enough of a reason to go there. It is also

Dog FriendlyFamily FriendlyAnd they have Yard Games!

Abby the Giraffe: greenacresboise.com/eventsYou definitely need to keep in touch with their Events menu. For example, this coming Wednesday August 4th (this coming Wednesday is based on when this article is being written; if you’re reading this after the 4th, please check out the current events) they have Wine & Design with Abby the Giraffe from 7-9 PM. The activity is $35.00 per person; here’s the description:

Sign up, Show up, Sip up, PAINT! Have a glass of wine and paint a masterpiece outside, steps away from the Boise River and Greenbelt. ONE BEVERAGE of your choice is included in your registration. Choose from a large variety of coffee, iced drinks, beer, wine, canned cocktails, cider, you name it! Just show up and let one of the Wine & Design master instructors guide you step by step to create a masterpiece. No artistic talent required!

Workout and Brunch: greenacresboise.com/workoutandbrunch

Green Acres Food truck Park also has a “Workout and Brunch” program on Saturday mornings (plus some pop-ups in between). It’s a partnership program with a local gym to host an outdoor workout. Just in time to prepare you for brunch and other food trucks to enjoy throughout the day. “At Green Acres, we are pro-food truck and we are pro-fitness.”
This is a free 45-minute body weight-focused workout that is equal parts strength and cardio. All attendees will receive a Buy One Get One Free Beverage coupon to use at Green Acres. Coupons work on all coffee, soda, beer, wine, etc. The Something Different Food truck will be ready immediately after serving brunch!

Are you looking for something different to eat? Maybe something different t also helps to support others in the Treasure Valley? I suggest you head down to the Green Acres Food Truck Park and see which trucks appeal to you!

Happy Travels!
Stuart

Stuart Gustafson is America’s International Travel Expert® who writes novels and loves everything about travel. Visit his website at www.stuartgustafson.com. You can also connect with him personally on Facebook and/or with him and other travelers on his International Travel Expert page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/International-Travel-Expert-147321228683651/

All information and images copyright © 2014-2021 by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC (unless stated otherwise). America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC.

Independent Bookstores in Boise Do More Than Just Sell Books

(image from rdbooks.org)
There had been concern for years that print books would fly away like the now-extinct dodo bird. E-book readers such as Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and others were gaining popularity, and as more books became available in e-book formats, the compounding effect took charge. It seemed as if Amazon was coming out with a new model of its industry-leading Kindle every few months. It wasn’t quite that often, but it sure seemed that way

Print books are dead

That was the popular sentiment, anyway.

But print books are NOT going away, not just in Boise, but all over the United States. According to a recent article on tonerbuzz.com, “Print books are here to stay!” Citing a report from the Pew Research Center, the article includes the following pie chart:

(source: https://www.tonerbuzz.com/blog/paper-...)

But that 37% is misleading. That percentage is of all of the respondents; if you look at only those who said they have read at least one book in the past year, it is actually over 51% of the readers who read only print books. And as far as digital only readers, they account for only about 10% of the readers. The remaining 39% of the readers say that they read both print books and digital books. As one who loves to travel, I see many readers on planes and at resort, but they are using their e-readers (except for those picking up a paperback at the swimming pool’s lending library).

(image from rdbooks.org)

Rediscovered Books is the main independent bookstore in Boise, and it also has a location in Caldwell. These stores sell new books, as well as puzzles, gift cards, but not games (that’s another story). Rediscovered also has a store, Once and Future Books, that buys, sells, and trades used books. Like most businesses that were hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, store hours and shopping hours have been greatly impacted.

It’s not just books and other literary items that Rediscovered Books is known for. Like most independent bookstores, Rediscovered is a very strong supporter of local authors. And it’s not just the authors who are on the New York Times Best Seller List. Sure, it helps that Boise is home to more than one top author, such as Pulitzer Prize winner Anthony Doerr for his 2014 novel All the Light We Cannot See.

But it’s also the [essentially] obscure authors, such as myself and others whom I won’t name (meaning they’re also obscure), whose books are carried and promoted by Bruce and Laura DeLaney and their staff at Rediscovered Books. They’ve carried my indecently published novels and jointly authored novellas, and even given us a “Meet the Authors” night.

The next time you are looking to buy a book, a print one of course, head to your local independent book store and look in the “Local Authors” section. Most bookshops (except the larger chains) have a section for the local authors. Tell the staff what type of book you’re wanting to read, and they’ll be able to suggest one that they’ve read and liked. Not only are you supporting a local, and most likely “small author,” but you’re also helping a local business stay in business and keep paychecks flowing to the staff. The revenue stays local as opposed to the big chains where the profits go “to corporate” out of state.

Are you not sure where to find an independent store where you live, or where you’re going? I use the Independent Store Finder tool at indiebound.org. Just type in an area or a ZIP code, and it will pull up all independent bookstores within one hundred miles of that area.

Remember, when you shop at an independent bookstore, you helping to keep “the little guy” in business.

Thanks for shopping and reading books!

Happy Travels!
Stuart

Stuart Gustafson is America’s International Travel Expert® who writes novels and loves everything about travel. Visit his website at www.stuartgustafson.com. You can also connect with him personally on Facebook and/or with him and other travelers on his International Travel Expert page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/International-Travel-Expert-147321228683651/

All information and images copyright © 2014-2021 by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC (unless stated otherwise). America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC.

There’s Now a Car Wash Where There Used to be an Historic School

What does a free car wash have to do with a school?

Cole Elementary School in Boise used to instruct youngsters in a classic two-story building that was topped with a bell tower. The school opened in 1888, and one of its first teachers was Ella Cole, wife of the couple who donated part of their farmland for the school.

Now you know how Cole Road got its name.

Hazardous and Noisy location

Deemed as a hazardous and noisy location for an elementary school in 1975 (1974-75 Annual Report of the Independent School District of Boise City), the school held its final “last day of school” on June 5, 2008, and it was demolished in November of 2009.

The lot on the southwest corner of Cole and Fairview sat empty for many years. There were rumors that Albertsons, which is located on the eastern side of Cole Road, would build a new supermarket on the lot, but that never happened.

image from Amazon Up from the dirt arose an extension of a Boise business that wants to get that dirt off your car. Bluebird Express Car Wash has opened a new location with its main entrance on Fairview, west of Cole. It’s their second Boise location, and there is another one in Ontario, Oregon.

Located at 7547 West Fairview Avenue in Boise (ZIP 83704), they are open from 8 AM to 7 PM every day of the week. Their phone number is (208) 992-4931. According to their website at bluebirdexpress.com, they plan to open more new washes in the Treasure Valley. Right now they have this location on Fairview and one on Overland that was opened in January 2020.

Nice time to open a business

I spoke with Operating Partner John Michael Fery today at the new location, and when I asked him about the Overland car wash, he said, “We opened that one in January of 2020 — nice time to open a new business, right?” Not really, Mr. Fery.

Back to the FREE Car Washes from the first picture. Tomorrow, May 6, is the last day for the free car washes. All you have to do is drive up, and the attendant will press the screen and you’re on your way for a free card wash.

I’m going back to tell all my co-workers about the free car wash!

While I was using the free vacuums, I talked to someone in the stall next to me. I asked her if she knew about the free car washes. “No,” Nicole replied. “I needed to get a car wash, and I work down the street so I came here. When I pulled up to pay, the lady said it was free. So I’m going back to tell all my co-workers about it.”

As you turn to enter the long tunnel, you are greeted by a well-dressed attendant who guides your car to the perfect position, reminding you to leave the car in neutral and foot off the brake.

Lights indicate which items are being applied as you go through the system. The free wash I received was their Bluebird Signature + Ceramic, normally an $18.00 “wash” (it’s a whole lot more than just a wash) that is certainly top of the line:
Image from bluebirdexpress.com/pricing/

They also provide free towels to wipe down the last drops of water that remain on your car, although I have to admit the towel I used didn’t get much water at all. The 20 blowers took almost every last drop off the car — that’s better than most! And you can even put your floor mats through the special machines to clean them.

ALL AT NO ADDITIONAL COST!

Everything we do has to be the best!

That’s the motto that John Michael Fery said is the signature saying behind that Bluebird Express Car Wash does. Whether it’s the products used, to their filtration and recycling processes, to the staff, and their appearances.

Operating Partner Fery said that most of their monthly unlimited customers get their cars cleaned about three times a month. With just two visits, the unlimited plan pays for itself. And it’s simple and convenient. Just go online to bluebirdexpress.com/pricing/ and select the plan you want. There is even a separate lane for monthly members.

As you drive down Fairview in Boise, you’re bound to see the NOW OPEN sign at Bluebird Express Car Wash. My car looks so much nicer after today’s visit — yours can too!

Stuart Gustafson is America’s International Travel Expert® who writes novels and loves everything about travel. Visit his website at www.stuartgustafson.com. You can also connect with him personally on Facebook and/or with him and other travelers on his International Travel Expert page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/International-Travel-Expert-147321228683651/

All information and images copyright © 2014-2021 by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC (unless stated otherwise). America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC.

Where Can You Get Sushi in Boise? Just About Everywhere!

(image from kikkoman.com)

Boise, Idaho, is made fun of in many television shows, comic strips, and online memes. People who have never been to Boise consider it a backward hick town where everyone speaks cowboy and drives a pickup truck. So if you mention sushi, those same people would think that Boiseans catch a fish in the stream, eat it raw, and say they had sushi.

That is so far from the truth it’s not even funny.

I’m a native Southern Californian who has traveled the world, and has called Boise home for the past twenty-seven years. I moved here to take a job with a major international high-tech firm. When I moved here in 1993, there were many big corporations here who had to hire out-of-state employees because, at that time, there was no Engineering school in the state.

What does that have to do with sushi?

It has as much to do with sushi as it has to do with other fine restaurants, theater (and I don’t mean movie theaters), fine arts, culture. As out-of-staters (they weren’t all from California, by the way) moved into Boise, the state’s capital city, they wanted some of the same aspects of the lifestyle from where they had just moved. And since we all eat every day, dining out was an important part of that daily experience.

So back to the question at the top: “Where Can You Get Sushi in Boise?” And the answer is, “Just About Everywhere.”

Of course, the covid pandemic has taken a toll on most businesses, including the restaurants, but many of them got creative with delivery and take-out service. As one who has had some amazing sushi in many places in Japan (and even in Paris, France), I have enjoyed some delicious sushi right here in Boise, Idaho.

(image from threebestrated.com)
Most people do not think of strip malls when they are thinking of going to any form of fine dining or a specialty restaurant. But that is where you are going to find Fujiyama Japanese Restaurant in Boise just west of the mall on Milwaukee. We have dined there many times, sometimes just as a couple, or perhaps two couples. We have even had a family grouping inside one of their tatami rooms. The food has always been super fresh; they have awesome special rolls, and the service is fantastic. It’s not a surprise that they are typically rated #1 in annual polls.

(image from doordash.com)
About a mile north on Milwaukee, just south of Fairview Avenue is IOU Sushi, a restaurant that gets a lot of its trade from its all-you-can-eat special. The rolls have been tasty when I’ve been there, but the catch is that everyone in your party has to pay for the all-you-can-eat price. That’s a reasonable request, but not one that I can do with my family. Now, perhaps if I went by myself …..

(image from Sakana website sakanaid.com)
With three locations in the area, Sakana Japanese Sushi had an interesting twist to sushi offerings: the $1 plate. Admittedly the plate didn’t have a lot of sushi on it, but you were able to taste various offerings. I’ve eaten several times at the Vista Avenue location, and the food and the service were worth going back many times. The restaurant looks like an old Denny’s Restaurant from its layout and seating, so there is not a ton on ambience. But who cares? The food is great, and that is all that counts.

(image from facebook.com)
At the edge of Boise and the city of Eagle, Sakura Sushi is currently only serving its tasty sushi rolls to go. It was quite the popular place for business meetings when I worked nearby in high-tech and we would occupy more than one of their teppanyaki grills/tables. I’m sure they will be more than happy to re-light those tables once the covid pandemic dies down.

(image from zomato.com)
Located on the north side of Fairview Avenue just west of Curtis Road, Kyoto Japanese Steak House has a few individual tables, but is mostly frequented for its teppanyaki, or hibachi, meals at a group table (“teppan”). This is close to my house, which makes it very convenient. All my meals there have been very good, and the service has always been superb.

(photo from the author)
You get used to seeing food trucks everywhere. I was first introduced to them when I was 16 and I spent some time with my uncle on his produce delivery route. I still remember the fragrant and delicious tamales at 3 A.M. at the Los Angeles Farmers Market. Food trucks have come a long way; you can even get sushi now. You see a lot of food trucks with tacos, etc., in Boise, but I never expected to see one selling sushi. I wasn’t all that hungry (who’s kidding– I’m always hungry for sushi), but I stopped to see what was on the menu at Sushi Bros. Seriously, how many food trucks do you know that have a website?
IT WAS GREAT! I ordered a California Roll, and I was asked if I wanted the Special Roll. I declined as my judgment of sushi rolls is the basic California roll (just like I judge Chinese food based on their sweet and sour sauce). It was good, and it was reasonably priced. If you are on Fairview Avenue near Westgate Plaza (7600 block), give them a try.

(image from npfamilyrecipes.com)
I’ve even found sushi in almost every grocery store (not all, but most of the higher end ones). I would buy and eat it if it looked fresh, smelled fresh, and was made the same day. That’s one of the many nice things about Boise. There are so many options, even when it comes to sushi!

Happy Travels!
Stuart

Stuart Gustafson is America’s International Travel Expert® who writes novels and loves everything about travel. Visit his website at www.stuartgustafson.com. You can also connect with him personally on Facebook and/or with him and other travelers on his International Travel Expert page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/International-Travel-Expert-147321228683651/

All information and images copyright © 2014-2021 by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC (unless stated otherwise). America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC.

But is it REALLY Safe to Travel?

I know that I’m not the only who is receiving offers every day to “Book Now & Travel Later.” Many of the offers include perks that hadn’t been given previously, but then “today” is not “yesterday.” Whether it’s Free Insurance; Free Drinks; Free Cancellation for any Reason; Free Upgrades; Free Airfare—they all sound good, but.

There’s always a “but” to these offers. In most of these cases, the “but” isn’t from the offering company or the offer itself. It’s do YOU think it’s really safe to travel?

As “America’s International Travel Expert®,” I love to travel, but I’ve had to cancel five trips from this year alone. And I’m not planning any more for 2020, and none yet for 2021. Not traveling is a strange feeling for me.

Some countries seem to have dampened the impact of the Covid-19 virus, while others are still seeing spikes in cases, hospitalizations, intubations, and even deaths. Whether it’s an airline, a cruise line, or a tour company, each one is going to great lengths to tell us what they are doing to maintain a clean environment, a euphemism for “safe place to travel.” They’re conducting regular cleaning routines; they’re providing sanitizing wipes and disinfectants; they’re practicing social distancing.

Those activities are all good, but (there’s that word again) those aren’t enough. Even if the airplane is 100% spotless, how do I know that the person or persons close to me are healthy and not carrying the virus. When I get to my destination, is there any assurance that everyone I encounter from staff to guests are all 100% healthy and also practicing all the proper safety actions? Of course not.

All this and there is no vaccine yet. Oh yes, and experts are even saying that a “perfect” vaccine won’t be enough protection because the virus mutates.

So while the airlines, the cruise lines, and the travel companies continue to send me the enticing offers, I am staying home until I see enough evidence that it is reasonably safe for me to travel. You will make your own reasoned decisions, but whatever you do, I hope you stay safe and stay healthy.

Happy Travels!

Stuart

Stuart Gustafson is America’s International Travel Expert® who writes novels and loves everything about travel. Visit his website at www.stuartgustafson.com. You can also connect with him personally on Facebook and/or with him and other travelers on his International Travel Expert page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/International-Travel-Expert-147321228683651/

All information and images copyright © 2014-2020 by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC. America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC.

Water—Source of Life

Water is known to be the elixir of life for humans, four-legged animals and flying ones, plants, every form of life as we know it on Earth. Most of us take it for granted that water will be there when we want it; we can turn the faucet handle and water flows. That might be the case for most of us in first-world countries, but that’s not a guarantee everywhere in the world. Not just for humans, but also for animals, livestock, and wild beasts. There are places where water is naturally scarce; there are no taps to turn on and watch the water flow.

Let me introduce you to one organization that is doing something positive about the water situation. Wildland Adventures is a travel company that offers guided tours on six continents. While many of their tours provide benefits to local communities, there is one, in particular, that is going above and beyond most what most think of as ecotourism. Their Water for Hwange Safari in Zimbabwe focuses on providing reliable water sources for both the wildlife and local villages that call Hwange home. This one of a kind safari not only raises the necessary funds to install solar-diesel hybrid pumps but also gets travelers engaged in the project.

Many people who think of the country of Zimbabwe also think of the magnificent Victoria Falls, an amazing natural wonder. “Why then is there a water issue?” some people might ask when they see the splendid falls as in this video of the Falls. The problem is that water doesn’t naturally flow to the residents of the area—the wild animals, the livestock, the people. In addition, last year was one of the worst recorded droughts in the history of Zimbabwe.

Hwange National Park is the largest natural reserve in all of Zimbabwe and lies along the border of Botswana. The park’s elephant population is one of the largest in the world with over 45,000 in the park. Hwange’s grasslands and mopane woodlands boast a tremendous selection of wildlife with over 100 species of mammals including lions, leopard, cheetah, African wild dogs and even rare plains game like sable antelope. When this park was created in the 1920s, its boundaries failed to include a reliable water supply, a major ecological oversight. The thirsty herds of Hwange currently rely on an aging infrastructure of diesel pumps and boreholes for water to survive each dry season. This safari aims to not only replace those pumps with a more sustainable option but also provide pumps for the local communities. If we want to accomplish true ecotourism we need to look after both sides of the equation, the wildlife and the people that call that destination home.

This video from last year’s expedition to the Hwange National Park gives a great glimpse of what travelers can expect on this conservation safari.

In addition to seeing how Wildland has installed hybrid water pumps to replace the diesel or hand pumps, guests on this special tour spend time with villagers to understand how the new sources of water have improved their lives. Because this popular tour has sold out again for the second year in a row, an additional tour has been scheduled July 27 – August 6, 2020.

Highlights of the tour include:

Guided tour of Victoria Falls
Ride on the Elephant Express railcar, while viewing game all the way into camp
Hwange National Park game drives
Walk with local students to Ngamo School, and attend a school assembly
Anti-poaching patrol
Visit an area where a new hybrid water pump is installed and being dedicated
A slow, non-technical bike ride followed by a picnic lunch under a shady tree
Underground blinds
Zambezi National Park
Canoeing the gentle rapids and lazy channels of the Zambezi River

Tours such as the Water for Hwange Safari aren’t just for the entertainment of the guests on these small-group tours. The tours are also beneficial to the villagers, as shown in this video. As you make your travel and adventure plans for this year, or next, consider doing something good for this Earth and sign up for the Water for Hwange Safari tour.

Happy Travels!

Stuart

Stuart Gustafson is America’s International Travel Expert® who writes novels, sends out a monthly newsletter about Books and travel, and loves everything about travel. Visit his website at www.stuartgustafson.com. You can also connect with him personally on Facebook and/or with him and other travelers on his International Travel Expert page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/International-Travel-Expert-147321228683651/

Information and images copyright © 2014-2020 by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC, as well as other copyright holders, such as Wildland Adventures (www.wildland.com) and others. America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC.

What the Climate Is Like in Different Regions of Canada

What the Climate Is Like in Different Regions of Canada

Canada’s moniker as “” has given many people the perception that it is a cold, icy place. While that can certainly be true in certain areas and during certain times of the year, it’s really only half the story.

Occupying approximately 3.8 million square miles stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, Canada is the second-largest country in the world. It’s also one of the most geographically diverse. As such, Canada’s climate has a similarly broad range, from the northernmost territory’s heavy snowfall and frigid temperatures to the warm, rainy weather of those areas surrounding the Rocky Mountains.

It’s important, then, before you start planning a vacation to the Hudson Bay or looking at homes for sale in Vancouver, to educate yourself about what kind of climate you’re likely to encounter

Arctic region

This is the region that gives Canada its chilly reputation. Dominating the north of Canada is a vast, largely unpopulated tundra. There are only two seasons here: a brief three-month “summer,” wherein temperatures climb to just above freezing, and a long, bitter winter whose dark nights often reach as far down as 30 to 40 or even 50 degrees below zero.

Rocky Mountain region

In stark contrast to the uniform cold of the arctic area, the Rocky Mountain region offers highly varied but generally mild climates. It encompasses a large portion of western Canada, notably the southern half of British Columbia, the northern half of the Yukon Territory, and, of course, the Rocky Mountains. Summers range from warm to hot, with more humidity and precipitation along the western slopes while the eastern inland areas experience dryer, cooler temperatures.

West Coast region

Comprising a relatively small sliver of land bordering the Pacific Ocean, Canada’s West Coast has an agreeable “oceanic” climate characterized by sunny summers that are warm rather than hot and rainy winters that rarely see temperatures dip below freezing. The region’s proximity to the westerly wind-belts, meanwhile, accounts for an above-average level of precipitation.

Boreal region

The largest of Canada’s climate areas, the Boreal region covers the majority of Canada’s central landmass. It is also the second-coldest after the Arctic region, with winters reaching the negative-30/40 degree range. However, Boreal summers are some of the hottest in the country, at times reaching close to 90 degrees. This region, therefore, represents the most drastic variance between extremes and, overall, one of the most well-rounded seasonal cycles in Canada.

Prairies region

Similar in many ways to the Boreal region, the Prairies region nevertheless distinguishes itself with more humid, rainy springs and summers that stand in juxtaposition to the overarching dryness of the Boreal region. Despite this, the Prairies generally experience low precipitation in the winter. This region is composed of a stretch of flatland positioned between the Boreal region and the Canadian-U.S. border.

East Coast region

Canada’s East Coast comprises those portions of land near Great Lakes in the south, then reaching up and around to the area neighboring the Atlantic Ocean. This is the part of Canada housing most of the country’s major urban centers, including Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa. The reason for that is simple: precipitation is steady and reliable throughout the year, and the Atlantic Ocean helps moderate the climate, resulting in warm summers and modest winters.

Enjoy your time in Canada!

Stuart Gustafson,

America’s International Travel Expert®

All information and images copyright © 2014-2019 by Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC. America’s International Travel Expert is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Stuart Gustafson Productions, LLC.